Between juggling presents for friends and family, catching up for a drink with friends and of course the time and money that goes into cooking a lunch or dinner for a big group the cost just adds up.

Everyone tries to stay on top of their budget in their own ways, but one woman has explained her mother-in-law is going to charge guests for a place at the table this year.

“Am I being unreasonable to think you should ask family to pay for their Xmas lunch?” she asked in the popular parenting forum Mumsnet.

Would you ever ask family to pay for their Christmas lunch? (Getty)

“My partner has just told me that his mother who he's having Christmas lunch with said she wants $30 per head from him! I'm going to my family for lunch so invited him also but he has had it there all his life with his grandparents and siblings too,” the woman explained.

The post continued: “She said she doesn't want to do It all from scratch and wants to get it all pre-done so it's more money, which I understand but he's gutted and feels like he wants to come to my family now. I can see it from both sides and its hard work and can be expensive but not like she is financially destitute.”

“This has never happened before and he has offered to bring the dessert etc but he said handing over cash just feels wrong. As he says it's about family not money but I wanted to see what other people's opinions are?” she asked.

It didn’t take long for the comments to fire up with a very mixed response to the situation.

“I would never ask people to pay to come to my house for dinner,” wrote one user.

“I definitely would not ask for money and would not ask for food contributions either, but I would hope that my guests would bring some wine and nibbles for supper/snacks,” added another.

Some people were outraged that the MIL had asked for money. (Unsplash)

One user wrote: “OMG! No! F--k, that is horrible. We host Christmas: buy the turkey and pudding, everyone else brings a dish eg. sausages in blankets etc. That shares the cost and the work. Cannot think of anything less hospitable than setting the menu and demanding your ‘guests’ pay for it.”

Other users said charging for Christmas lunch is “horrifically rude” and one commenter added it’s, “the epitome of being a tight arse! If you can’t afford to host then don’t host.”

Some people saw it from a different view and suggested that bringing a dish was a more tasteful way of asking to split up the cost.

“Personally I wouldn't - I would ask people to contribute by bringing specific contributions to the meal instead ("Uncle Paul is bringing stuffing, Auntie Lucy is doing the sprouts" type thing). But if someone asked me for cash I'd pay - it's really expensive hosting, particularly at an expensive time of the year. When we have had Christmas meals as a big group of friends, we split the cost,” wrote one person.

Others thought it was fair enough she had asked for some financial help. (Unsplash)

Another agreed and wrote: “I think it’s fair to be honest; why should she have to cover the cost every year when it’s likely to be £100 plus and why should she have to cover the cost of not wanting to do so much cooking.”

“I think your boyfriend sounds tight. Why doesn't he give her the money a couple of weeks in advance so that it doesn't feel to him that he's handing over cash in exchange for a meal? Or - hold onto your hat here - he could host himself and fund it all, given he thinks contributions are wrong?” wrote another.